No fabric bought this week. Stash is still ahead 43.5 yards. I did buy a book, several spools of thread, and some needles. I completed four "two lips" blocks. My next set of red/white blocks is ready to swap. No pictures, they are stuck to my wall at home. Ken and I are in Minnesota. I did bring my applique with me--

We're spending the weekend with Nick, Laura Beth and Mason. We drove through Culver's on Friday, Ken got a malt and I a sundae.

Mason used both hands. Last night we were at the mall. There weren't a lot of people--do you think everyone has their shopping done??

Ken is tired of turkey, today Laura Beth is making his favorite--burgers!

I found a simple quilt in this book I really liked. A 1936 Kansas City Star pattern called "Flower of Spring". Its alternate name was "Two Lips".

Yes Jay, the gold fabric is the last scrap I found from your box. All the flower blocks have the same orange fabric in the middle of the flowers. I didn't have any orange for that--so I bought 11.5 yards. I think this will be a wonderful long term scrap project for me. The pattern has 54 of these 9" blocks.

My stash accumulations--I think that brings this year's total to 43.5 yards. All good though. I'm enjoying my quilting. I'm not a "Black Friday" shopper. Nope, you're going to find me inside reading and sewing! Have a great week everyone!~

Ken and I have been married 32 years. Not long ago I had tried a new recipe. A new recipe is not always a success! As Ken was valiantly eating I asked if he liked the new dish? His answer --"well, if you don't like it you don't have to make it again for me!" Now that's diplomacy!

I took my coupons along on my Minnesota trek. On the way I stopped and used a coupon (60% off one cut) and before I left Rochester I stopped and used another one. I'm not sure how much I bought, its in the car and I'm not going out in the snow. A guess? Hmmm---there was a big piece of background, and most of a bolt of pastel pink. A red stripe for a border. Two more small pieces that are to be Christmas projects. I will guess 32 yards.

I don't know when I'm heading home, not before the roads are clear. Maybe April or so.........

Yesterday my sister went home from the hospital. I drove to Mankato from Rochester. I'm glad she was able to leave, last night it snowed. Really snowed! Nick worked a bit this morning, and when he said he pushed snow as high as the headlights on his van, he wasn't kidding.

Nick's Work Van Parked on Street

His van is parked in front of their house, there's a street behind it. I just checked, and no snowplows have gone yet. Some parts of Mankato are without electricity because of downed lines.

When Nick had shoveled a little path, Laura Beth pulled Mason in his sled.

Laura Beth stayed outside to help Nick shovel while Mason and I watched from the window. Ken said no snow at our house.

I have a new book for Mason. I think later will be a good time to read it. Maybe with some hot chocolate.

I'm in Rochester MN. My sister had a shoulder replaced and I'm staying here while she's in the hospital. I am good at fluffing pillows, straightening white surgical socks, and ordering her food.

My Holiday cactus is blooming it's heart out.

The plant is covered with blooms, I especially like the gold ones. Almost like a new gold coin. And when I was turning the plant, I found another new color--white!

There are some great historic buildings to see here in Rochester. Next I am driving to Mankato to see Mason, Laura Beth and Nick. I was reading a menu from an Indian Restaurant, I would love to try it. A few quilt stores too. I really don't NEED to stop. Really. I don't.

It's going to be a busy week, lots of family things. I'm sewing on my red/white swap blocks---not much to see. But its confession time. Yes, I bought fabric!!5 1/2 yards. And a spool of thread. Some reds and whites for my swap. A background print. And a black/white stripe--I am making a block that NEEDS a b/w stripe, and I didn't have any.

Without lots of figuring (I've never been good at math) I think I'm about----yup, probably 5 1/2 yards in the hole! But I'm happy with my stash. Lots of finished tops to be quilted. I've bought fabric this year, but my fabric cubes (I store my fabric by colors/theme in wire cubes) have lots of room in them! 18 months ago they were full. My scrap box is pathetically empty. I have oodles of noodles in my noodle basket. I can happily sew up at least 3 queen size bricks and stepping stones quilts.

Last night I was folding fabric and cleaning off my cutting table. Thinking about quilting. I'm enjoying it more. The process, I mean. Even the blood pressure raising dreaded applique.

Beautiful fall day. Clear and sunny. Harvest is finished. There is a lot to be done before winter. In between I worked on applique. I must be very slow, it took me three days to make this block--

A Honey Bee block. It's going on my "Jay's Sample Blocks" pile.

Right before the first hard frost, we brought my holiday cactus in. It spent the summer on the patio table on the deck. The shortening days must have triggered it to bloom. Now the buds are opening and it's a mound of blossoms. There are three separate colors in the pot, a fuchsia/white, a yellow, and a deep red/white. I was going to divide it, but it seems to be doing quite well as is!

Its setting on top of a treadle sewing machine, so you can see how big it is. I've been reading blogs in between bouts of other activity. I'm not sure what to do with all my leftover Halloween candy. I've been good and only had one tiny Snickers. Ken must be working on them, I'm finding empty wrappers.